International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 3, March - 2014

A Review of Solar Energy: Potential, Status,

Targets and Challenges in Rajasthan

Dinesh Kumar Sharma1 , Anil Pratap Singh2 , Versa Verma3

1
M.Tech Scholar, Energy Technology, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Mandsaur Institute of Technology, Mandsaur (M.P), India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering,
Poornima College of Engineering, Jaipur (Raj.), India
3
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Mandsaur Institute of Technology, Mandsaur (M.P), India

Abstract: - Rajasthan has a huge potential of solar energy, the
climatic conditions of state makes it ideal for capturing the solar
rays in sufficiency. The climate of Rajasthan is semi-arid; the
desert of Thar is spreads on the 66.66 % of total area of state.
These climatic specialties makes it suitable to receive almost 300-
325 sunny days in a year and 6-6.4kwh/m2/ sun radiation per day,
which is second highest amount of sun radiation all over the
world. The average temperature of western cities of Rajasthan is
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between 35-40 degree, and in summer, it reaches above 45
degree. The availability of solar energy in Rajasthan is 6 to 7
kw/km2, which provides the potential of 100000MW electricity
yearly, out of which only 442.25 MW is currently being
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permanent solution to the energy crisis, it is also detrimental to
the environment. Thus, it is imperative that India obtains
energy security without affecting the booming economy,
which would mean that the country must switch from the non-
renewable energy to renewable energy. Solar power is
attractive because it is abundant and offers a solution to fossil
fuel emissions and global climate change and able to satisfy
future energy demand. Earth receives solar energy at the rate
of approximately 1, 20,000 terawatt. This extremely exceeds
both the current annual global energy consumption rate of
about 15 TW, and any conceivable requirement in future [2].

In fact, solar energy is the largest absorbable renewal resource

produced. Certainly, it is not a satisfactory situation. This paper as more energy from sunlight strikes Earth in 1 hour than all
describes the potential, status, targets and challenges in solar
of the energy consumed by humans in an entire year. Use of
energy in Rajasthan.
Solar energy is also requirement of the day because the fossil
Keywords-solar photovoltaic, solar potential, sun radiation fuel reserves are rapidly depleting and greenhouse gases and
are to be substantially reduced to limit the carbon emission
Abbreviations: from the power sector in near future.
SEEZ Solar Energy Enterpirses Zone
ISCC Intregrated Solar Combined CYCLE
II. SOLAR POTENTIAL IN RAJASTHAN
GBI Generation Based Incentive Scheme
RERC Rajasthan Electricuty Regulatory Commission Rajasthan, the largest state of India constitutes about 10.4%
RPO Renewalble Procurment Obligation geo-graphical area of India. Notwithstanding the recently
RECL Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. discovered large hydrocarbon reserves of more than
REC Renewable Energy Certificate
RREC Rasjathan Renewable Energy Corporation
PV Photovoltaic
MW Megha Watt
TW Tera Watt
US United State
USA United State of America

I. INTRODUCTION
India’s population is more than 1210.19 million is growing
at an annual rate of 1.58% [1]. As fossil fuel based energy
resource depleting rapidly, India will face huge energy
shortages significantly due to increase in energy prices and
energy insecurity within the next few decades. Increased use
of fossil fuels also causes environmental problems both locally
and globally. There is a very high demand for energy, which is
currently satisfied mainly by coal, foreign oil and petroleum, Figure: 1 Solar Power Potential in Rajasthan (NREL, India)
which apart from being a non-renewable, and therefore non-

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 3, March - 2014

1, 75,000 barrel oil per day and oil equivalent in Barmer basin,
there are limited available traditional sources of energy such
as coal [3].
There are only two perennial rivers, Chambal and Mahi,
whose hydroelectric potential has been almost fully achieved.
In view of the above, Rajasthan faces two unique challenges in
terms of power generation from the conventional sources: one,
there are not many hydropower projects due to non-
availabilityof large rivers; two, as coal needs to be transported
from other states, the transportation alone contributes to 50%
cost of energy production [4].
Rajasthan has around 208,110 Sq.km of desert land.
Rajasthan has more than 325 sunny days in a year with solar
radiation of about 6-7Kwh/sq-m/day. The direct normal
isolation over Rajasthan varies from 1800Kwh/m2 to
600Kwh/m2 [5].
State [7]. Daily average radiation ranges between 5kWh/m2 in
north-eastern hilly areas and 7kWh/m2 in western regions.
Reliance and Moser Bear both are developing solar power
plants of 1 to 5 MW each. Rajasthan, the largest state in India
receives maximum solar radiation intensity in India.
According to US Department of Energy, Rajasthan receives
the second largest amount of solar radiation in the world.
Rajasthan is best suited for solar power generation since
average rain fall is very low. Solar radiation in Rajasthan is
similar to California and Nevada in USA [8]. As shown in
Figure 2 comparison of desert sites across the world, we can
see from this comparison the Thar desert in India receive
second highest amount of solar radiation in the world.

TABLE: I STATE WISE INSTALLED SOLAR POTENTIAL

Installed Capacity
Sr. No. States
(MW)

4 Gujarat 824.09
3 Rajasthan 442.25
16 Maharashtra 34.50
2 Andhra Pradesh 23.15
8 Tamil Nadu 17.055
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7 Jharkhand 16.00
11 Karnataka 14.00
15 Odisha 13.00
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Figure 2: Comparison of DNI on a monthly basis for desert sites across the
9 Uttar Pradesh 12.38 world [9]
13 Madhya Pradesh 11.75
III. INITIATIVES IN SOLAR SECTOR IN RAJASTHAN:
1 Punjab 09.33
5 Haryana 07.80
Solar energy industry is still in its initial stage. However,
the government of Rajasthan is encouraging private sector
19 Uttarakhand 05.05 investment through various fiscal and promotional incentives
17 Chhattisgarh 04.00 these incentives given for both solar thermal and SPV
projects. The state government has made a project to develop
18 Delhi 2.53 Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer as Solar Energy Enterprises
6 West Bengal 02.00 Zone (SEEZ). The Mathania solar power project (140MW) is
a milestone in this field, as it is the first solar/thermal hybrid
14 Goa & UT 01.69
power plant of country. This project is based on integrated
10 Arunachal Pradesh 0.025 solar combined cycle (ISCC) technology, it will use parabolic
12 Kerela 0.025 trough mirrors to focus sun heat and further drive the turbine
to generate power. This plant will produce 40MW energy,
Total 1440.605 which will cost 1 million/MW and still cheaper than other
Source: MNRE [6] methods like SPV. Besides these steps, few more small solar
Mostly the western part of Rajasthan is blessed with abundant power based projects are working successfully, such as,
solar energy. Jodhpur in Rajasthan is receiving maximum 100KW capacity power plant in Gourir ( Jhunjhunu), which is
solar radiation which is known as Sun City of India. Rajasthan first of its kind in country, a solar energy driven refrigerator in
is also blessed with abundant land, so it would be ideal for Balesar (Jodhpur), state’s first totally solar energy electrified
solar PV. Solar has huge untapped potential on account of the village in Jaipur etc. In private sector, many companies are
State's high solar insulation level, the best in the country. Solar taking interest in solar energy.
Industry is expected to be an economic engine in Rajasthan Reliance and Moser Bear both are developing solar power
creating jobs across the State and spur billions in economic plants of 1 to 5 MW each. In which Moser Bear’s project will
growth and tax revenue along with powering remotely be the largest grid connected solar farm in India. The
connected households. Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Rajasthan government has signed a memorandum with Clinton
Jodhpur are the key regions with best solar radiation in the foundation on january2010. According to which the

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 3, March - 2014

foundation will provide technical assistance and other financial year 2022 respectively. This is 200MW, 400MW and
necessary help to establish solar parks of 3,000 MW to 5,000 2000MW for financial year 2013, 2017 and 2022 respectively
MW capacities in the state. Before the creation of National under off grid installation. Similarly these targets are 7, 15 and
Solar Mission, Govt. of Rajasthan has taken an initiative in 20 Million square meter under solar collector [11].
2008 and approved 2 Solar Projects each of 5 MW under
Generation Based Incentive Scheme (GBI). To provide V. CURRENT STATUS OF SOLAR ENERGY IN RAJASTHAN
encouragement in solar sector, Rajasthan Electricity
Regulatory Commission (RERC) issued orders on 2nd April Rajasthan is leader in utilisation of solar radiation for power
2008, first time in India, imposing solar specific renewable generation, number of projects has been installed in western
procurement obligation (RPO) for Discom in Rajasthan. To part of Rajasthan particularly in Jodhpur. Jasalmer, Bikaner,
meet out RPO requirement, the State Government approved Barmer and in reaming part of state. As we have shown in
Solar Projects of 11 private sector developers for setting up of table III the total installed capacity as on 9th March 2013 was
66 MW capacities utilizing all available technologies in solar 442.25MW [6] and many projects are in pipelined in
photovoltaic and concentrated solar thermal. Rajasthan.
After announcement of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar
Mission, Government of Rajasthan permitted these proposals
to be migrated to the National Solar Mission. The Seven solar
Power plants, each of 5 MW, having Photovoltaic technology
are already commissioned under the migration scheme of
National Solar Mission, while the Solar Thermal Plants of 30
MW are under implementation. The Rajasthan Electricity
Regulatory Commission (RERC) has also notified the RERC
(REC and RPO Compliance Framework) Regulations, 2010
on 23rd December, 2010 [10]. Further, Rajasthan Electricity
Regulation Commission has also issued from time to time the
RPOs and feed-in tariff for Renewable Energy Projects. In the
year 2011, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
under National Solar Mission selected investors for setting up
of solar power plant of 800 MW capacities under the phase I
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of National Solar Mission. In fact, to offset the higher cost of

solar power, the mechanism has been developed to bundle the
solar power along with the unallocated portion of the power
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available with National Thermal Power Corporation. In the

competitive bids, the tariff for solar energy came in the range
of INR 10.50 to 12.75 per unit, whereas the cost of the
unallocated conventional energy was about INR 3. Therefore,
per unit cost of the bundled energy has been around INR 4.5 Figure3: Company wise Installed project [6]
per unit [10].
Major project owner are Dahanu Solar Power, SEI Solar
IV. TARGET IN RAJASTHAN FOR SOLAR ENERGY Power Ltd, Azure Solar Pvt Ltd, Welspun Solar AP Pvt Ltd,
DEVELOPMENT Mahindra Suryapraksh Pvt Ltd, Solarfield Energy Two Pvt
Ltd, Azure Solar Pvt Ltd, Welspun Solar AP Pvt Ltd and
As Rajasthan has a huge potential for Solar Energy Fonroche saaras Energy etc.
development for this, it has its own target to generate the
maximum energy form solar radiation. Target is divided in
two parts one is under National Solar Mission and second one
is under State Solar Policy. VI. CHALLENGES IN RAJASTHAN FOR SOLAR
DEVELOPMENT
Rajasthan is a favourable destination due to the high
TABLE II. TARGETS FOR SOLAR IN RAJASTHAN radiation and almost 325 days sunny days, but the array soling
losses is high due to the dust and due to the extreme high
Targets Under NMS FY 2013 FY 2017 FY2022
temperature Photovoltaic losses is very high. Another
Under utility Grid Power challenge is price of solar energy versus conventional power
1100 4000 20000
including Rooftop (MW) means the higher per unit cost and renewable purchase
Off Grid Installation obligations enforcement due to this private solar developer are
200 1000 2000
(MW) being discouraged. Grid availability and open access and
Solar Collectors (Mn wheeling charges are also a major issue for solar project
7 15 20
Sq.m) development in Rajasthan. Finally project implementation
Source: REEC [10] challenges also delay some project these challenges are land
As we have shown in table I under utility grid power acquisition and statutory approvals.
including rooftop Rajasthan has 1100 MW for financial year
2013, 4000 MW for financial year 2017 and 20000 MW for

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 3, March - 2014

VII. CONCLUSION REFERENCE

Rajasthan has a huge potential to develop solar power. The
availability of solar energy in Rajasthan is 6 to 7 kw/km2,
which gives potential of 10000MW solar energy commercial
production. Rajasthan has set quit good targets for electricity
production form solar energy, it has 1300 MW, 5000MW and
22000MW for financial year 2013, 2017 and 2022
respectively. Currently there are many organizations working
in the field of solar energy development major developers are
Dahanu Solar Power, SEI Solar Power Ltd, Azure Solar Pvt
Ltd, Welspun Solar AP Pvt Ltd, Mahindra Suryapraksh Pvt
Ltd. A report published by MNRE show that Rajasthan current
producing 442.25MW electricity form solar energy and this is
a quite disappointing for Rajasthan. There are some challenges
also like soling losses and temperature losses due to the high
temperature in western part of Rajasthan. Private developer
facing some challenges like finance, statutory obligations and
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC). There is a pressing need
to accelerate the power generation form solar energy to
achieve its solar power targets.
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